The author(s)

Washington, D.C. – With just a little more than a month away from the midterm elections, the Democratic candidate (50%) is still the preferred choice over the Republican candidate (38%) in the generic congressional ballot question, which asks likely voters who they would vote for if the election for U.S. Congress were held today in their district.

This week, Trump’s approval rate is 43% among likely voters - virtually unchanged from last week’s rate of 45%. Partisanship is still largely evident as only 11% of Democrat likely voters versus 86% of Republican likely voters approve of the way Trump is handling his job as President.

Perceptions are split among Democrats and Republicans when it comes to whether the country is heading in the right direction or off on the wrong track. A total of 39% of likely voters who believe that the country is heading in the right direction, a much smaller fraction of Democrat likely voters (13%) than Republicans likely voters (75%) agree. Conversely, a much larger share of Democrat likely voters (81%) than Republicans likely voters (20%) believe that it is off on the wrong track. When asked what the most important problem facing the US today is, the top three choices amongst likely voters were healthcare (21%), the economy (14%) and immigration (13%).

About this Study

These are findings from an Ipsos poll conducted for Thomson Reuters between September 26-October 2, 2018. For the survey, a sample of 3,316 Americans, including 1,840 likely voters, 851 likely voter Democrats, 705 likely voter Republicans, and 230 likely voter Independents ages 18+ were interviewed online. The precision of the Reuters/Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points for all adults, 2.6 percentage points for likely voters, 3.8 percentage points for likely voter Democrats, 4.2 percentage points for likely voter Republicans, and 7.4 percentage points for likely voter Independents. For more information about credibility intervals, please see the appendix.

The data were weighted to the U.S. current population data by gender, age, education, and ethnicity. Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online non-probability polls. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error and measurement error. Figures marked by an asterisk (*) indicate a percentage value of greater than zero but less than one half of one per cent. Where figures do not sum to 100, this is due to the effects of rounding. To see more information on this and other Reuters/Ipsos polls, please visit http://polling.reuters.com/.

The data were weighted to the U.S. current population data by gender, age, education, and ethnicity. Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online polls. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error and measurement error. Figures marked by an asterisk (*) indicate a percentage value of greater than zero but less than one half of one per cent. Where figures do not sum to 100, this is due to the effects of rounding. To see more information on this and other Reuters/Ipsos polls, please visit http://polling.reuters.com/.

About Ipsos Public Affairs

Ipsos Public Affairs is a non-partisan, objective, survey-based research practice made up of seasoned professionals. We conduct strategic research initiatives for a diverse number of American and international organizations, based not only on public opinion research, but elite stakeholder, corporate, and media opinion research.

Ipsos has media partnerships with the most prestigious news organizations around the world. In Canada, the U.S., UK, and internationally, Ipsos Public Affairs is the media polling supplier to Reuters News, the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. Ipsos Public Affairs is a member of the Ipsos Group, a leading global survey-based market research company. We provide boutique-style customer service and work closely with our clients, while also undertaking global research.

About Ipsos

Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. Ipsos ranks fourth in the global research industry.

With offices in 89 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across five research specializations: brand, advertising and media; customer loyalty; marketing; public affairs research; and survey management.

Ipsos researchers assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media and they measure public opinion around the globe.

Ipsos has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999 and generated global revenues of €1,780.5 million in 2017.